COVID-19: 3 doctors test positive in Lagos

The Medical Guild has disclosed that three of its members have tested positive for COVID-19.

The members were identified at Alimosho General Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

This was confirmed by Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo and Dr Ismail Ajibowo, Chairman and Secretary of the guild respectively. Equally important, the development was disclosed on Thursday in Lagos via the Instagram account of the guild.

The Medical Guild is an umbrella body of doctors under the employment of the Lagos State Government.

Sodipo and Ajibowo said that the three doctors had been admitted at different isolation facilities in Lagos for treatment. However, they affirmed that the medical conditions of the three members were stable. Further, the infected members were said to be enjoying the support of the guild.

Additionally, the guild leaders stated that the doctors at Alimosho General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos General Hospital; as well as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) had been exposed to COVID-19 cases.

“Since the incident, we have been working with our representatives in those centres; and the Medical Directors of the facilities to ensure testing of those involved. This is with a plan for care in the unfortunate incident of positive cases,” they said.

Likewise, the guild leaders said that they would engage the state government on the need to designate all doctors as frontline workers; while providing them with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and incentives due to risks they were exposed to.

They expressed optimism that the engagement with the government would be favourable.

The leaders warned medical doctors against attending to patients without adequate PPE; due to the community transmission and varying symptoms of COVID-19, stressing that all patients were COVID-19 suspects.

“We should also adopt rational use of PPEs, while adopting the slogan of ‘No PPE, No work,” they averred.